His presence be about us! What's the
matter wi' you, master. Are ye gaun to take the calm o' the
stamock again?"
The truth is, that the clown's absurd story, with the still more
ridiculous application, made me sick at heart a second time. It
was not because I thought my illustrious friend was the Devil, or
that I took a fool's idle tale as a counterbalance to Divine
revelation that had assured me of my justification in the sight of
God before the existence of time. But, in short, it gave me a view
of my own state, at which I shuddered, as indeed I now always
did when the image of my devoted friend and ruler presented
itself to my mind. I often communed, with my heart on this, and
wondered how a connection, that had the well-being of mankind
solely in view, could be productive of fruits so bitter. I then went
to try my works by the Saviour's golden rule, as my servant had
put it into my head to do; and, behold, not one of them could
stand the test. I had shed blood on a ground on which I could not
admit that any man had a right to shed mine; and I began to doubt
the motives of my adviser once more, not that they were
intentionally bad, but that his was some great mind led astray by
enthusiasm or some overpowering passion.
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